Outdoor Kitchen Options in Philadelphia

Here in Philadelphia, there are a lot of urban roof decks. These entertaining spaces are usually two floors above the kitchen and barbecuing becomes a marathon workout. Enter the Outdoor Kitchen. Todays home-cooks want a place to work around the BBQ, and keep their beer cold. Northeast weather is harsh though, so your indoor kitchen won't do. Here are the best (and worst) options:

Wood Cabinets

Wood looks great and adds warmth to the space. Only a few wood types should be used for outdoor cabinetry, so make sure you buy from a reputable company. The negatives? Doors can warp and wood needs more upkeep than other options.

Stainless Steel Cabinets

Stainless is tough and we think it looks the best. It can be powder-coated many different colors and is low maintenance. However, it is the most expensive, and it gets hot in full sun.

Synthetic Cabinets

Like wood, plastics come in different grades, so look for a quality material that won't fade or crack. Synthetic materials are low maintenance, easy to clean, and come in a variety of colors. 

Counters, hardware and floors

We recommend a stone counter like marble, granite, soapstone or quartzite. Counters will need to be sealed for outdoor use. Avoid synthetic counters, as they can melt against a hot grill. All hardware should be stainless. Outdoor cabinet pulls can be wood or plastic, but stainless is best. Set your kitchen on a solid surface like a concrete pad or hardwood deck. 

Outdoor Appliances

Only use outdoor rated appliances. The Northeast has harsh weather and indoor appliances won't cut it. Built-in grills can sit against stainless cabinets, but wood and synthetic cabinets should have a heat barrier. Any water will need to be shut off in the winter, so instal a shut-off valve in a convenient location.

Enjoy your outdoor kitchen. They are convenient and a great way to keep the party out of your house.

Americana Kitchen Projects For the 4th.

As we prepare to celebrate our great country's birthday, lets take a look at a few kitchens that embody a true American style.

This rustic kitchen is actually a modern renovation. The refrigerator and dishwasher are hidden behind panels. The red, white and blue color scheme feels very patriotic. 

Located in a recently remodeled Greek Revival farmhouse in upstate New York, this kitchen is more fun and relaxed. The design doesn't try to be a period reproduction, but mixes historic furniture and art with modern amenities. See more of the renovation here.

This traditional 'pie safe' cabinet with its punched tin panel is part of a new kitchen remodel in a historic Pennsylvania 1803 log cabin. Read about how the owners moved the cabin here.

Finally, our favorite because it's our own design :). The new Airy Kitchens showroom in Mt Airy Philadelphia. For this project we blended traditional American details with modern materials and appliances. This look doesn't try too hard to look original, but truly embodies our American design heritage. 

Enjoy the fireworks, barbecues and swimming pools, but take a minute this 4th of July to look around and see the designs, details and craftsmanship that make our towns, homes, and even kitchens American. 

Before and After: Craigslist Hutch to Philly Custom kitchen

Painting and updating an old hutch is a modern way to give your home character on a budget. During our kitchen renovation in Mt Airy Philadelphia, we designed an area where a hutch would go, but waited to find the hutch until the kitchen construction was almost finished. This allowed us to adjust cabinetry and appliances as needed and find a hutch that would fit our needs (and our space) at the end of the project. 

It took a month of scouring garage sales and the internet looking for the perfect hutch. We found it on craigslist in Bryn Athyn, PA. Price: $75

It was cute as a button and the perfect size, but there were a few issues:  1) The orange wood  looked terrible in our kitchen. 2) The top piece was too short to allow an appliance to sit on the hutch. 3) The knobs and drawer pulls looked dated (and not the date we were going for). 

So, we removed all the hardware and glass, spackled the holes and sanded all the wood. Next, we removed the backing and cut the legs of the top.

We forgot to buy wood dowels, so pencils were used as a quick fix!

We drilled holes and used dowels and wood glue to hold the new pieces together.

The tall wood pieces help the clamps apply even pressure and stop them from damaging the hutch

After all the glue was dry, we spackled the seams and sanded them smooth. Finally, we painted everything a mustard yellow and stained the top to match our cabinets. New hardware gave a victorian / farmhouse look. The final product:

We added some luan beadboard to the back of the top portion to deal with the new height. We also added a GFI outlet during our renovation. I would say this is the most important aspect to creating a 'built in'. With electric we can use the hutch how we would any counter area.

Building a custom cabinet like this would easily cost $1500-2500. Our project was under $200 and adds great character and charm to our Philly renovation.

How we keep contractors on schedule and happy!

At Airy Kitchens, we put in the extra effort to make sure our projects make people happy. Here are some secrets we use to keep our contractors on time and smiling:

1) Call or text a day or two before your start date.

A friendly reminder never hurt, right? Reminding your contractor of the start date lets them know that the schedule is important to you and that you will be following up on it.

2) Discuss home protection before they start.

Will the contractor be covering the floors, furniture, or shrubbery around your home or do you need to? Do you need to move furniture or art before they arrive? If the job site is planned and organized, the job will run faster and damage will be avoided. 

3) Leave out cleaning supplies and talk to the crew. 

It doesn't matter who is supposed to supply what. Leave out some paper towel, windex, and garbage bags. Meet the crew on the first day and let them know what bathroom to use and that they can use your supplies to clean up after themselves. You just might come home to a clean house.

4) Thank you!

Contractors do hard work in tough conditions. Offer water, lemonade or coffee. Treat the crew well and they will want to show up to work every day. If the contractor and his crew are doing a good job, let them know and thank them. You will be surprised how much they appreciate these gestures.

5) Pay on time, but not early.

Your contractor has shown up on time and worked hard for you. Now it's your turn to get it right. Have payment ready before due dates arrive. Be fair when considering contract commitments, but don't be too fast to pay. Make sure the work is on track and keep asking for calendar updates. It's okay to withhold funds if work is incomplete.

6) Offer to post reviews online.

Tell your contractor at the beginning of the job that you would like to leave a review. After the work is complete, ask if there are sites they would like you to post on. A good recommendation means a lot to a contractor and might keep them on schedule too.